At a recent PTA meeting, I heard that Hoffman Boston was slated to become a STEM school - due to its failure to meet AYP for x amount of years, and the overcrowding problem in most elementary schools. Not sure if this was just a rumor, but I thought it sounded reasonable. Thoughts?

Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 72%

FARMS destroys another Public School

OP, how urgent is this and what sort of research have you done? If your child is starting K, did you go to Kindergarten Information Night (not sure if it's happened yet; my kids are older)? What have you learned about your options? Have you talked to people in your neighborhood? At preschool? Are there posts on DCUM that concern you? What do you care about besides test scores?

Anonymous wrote:What are my options here? I know there are the 2 lottery schools but do I need to apply to other schools in our designated area? Our other options are Campbell, Claremont and drew model and ATS. What would be best option?

Your options are:

a) suck it up and send your kid to HB (you might be surprised)
b) move
c) try for one of the others you have mentioned, all of which are good schools

Lady luck will have to be on your side if you want ATS, but who knows - if you got it you'd probably feel like you "won the lottery." As PP said, however, it's not for everyone. Some people feel it is too strict and/or competitive of an environment for little kids. Others I know think the parents are way too uptight.

Lots of people like Claremont but if you're not gung-ho about an immersion program, it might not be a good choice. Drew is all Montessori, so if you're not into that teaching style, it may also not be for you.

We know several families who send their kids to Campbell and LOVE it. But I have no idea how easy/difficult it is to get acceptance when you are in another school district.

Before you diss your neighborhood school and completely write it off, I would encourage you to visit. We send our kids to a "failing" school that hasn't made AYP for several years but test scores/numbers/rankings don't always tell the full story. To get AYP, all groups have to improve every year. This means if, for example, your school's learning disabled kids or your non-English speaking kids don't improve over the previous year on their tests, the whole school fails. Does that mean all the other kids at the school are not getting a good education? I personally don't think so - my kids are doing more advanced math in second grade than I ever did - but you have a right to make your own decision.

I visited HB for a special ed evaluation for my son and thought it seemed like a caring, warm environment. Don't just assume it's bad.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone on this site is so bitchy. Wow

It's not bitchy - it's calling out prejudice.

Everyone on this site is so bitchy. Wow

Anonymous wrote:Why do you call it a "failing school"? It's fully accredited.

True, it never makes AYP, but that was probably also the case when you moved into the neighborhood, and lots of schools failed to make AYP last year, so why the SOS now?

I'd look at ATS, but it's not for everyone.

care to elaborate?

Oh no! The horror!

Why do you call it a "failing school"? It's fully accredited.

True, it never makes AYP, but that was probably also the case when you moved into the neighborhood, and lots of schools failed to make AYP last year, so why the SOS now?

I'd look at ATS, but it's not for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:Actually I am worried because it is a failing school you asshole. I care about education.

Why'd you buy a house in such a crummy school district then?

Actually I am worried because it is a failing school you asshole. I care about education.

Sidwell?

Anonymous wrote:What are my options here? I know there are the 2 lottery schools but do I need to apply to other schools in our designated area? Our other options are Campbell, Claremont and drew model and ATS. What would be best option?

I don't understand. Are you worried that brown kids go there?

What are my options here? I know there are the 2 lottery schools but do I need to apply to other schools in our designated area? Our other options are Campbell, Claremont and drew model and ATS. What would be best option?